Apparatus for curling an end of a wire



April 14, 1964 R. L. HOYT ETAL APPARATUS FOR CURLING AN END OF A WIRE Filed March 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 S 0 mw M w V nK W L PC 14 7' TOENE Y April 1954 R. L. HOYT ETAL APPARATUS FOR CURLING AN END OF A WIRE Filed March 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ON 2 BMW 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. L. HOYT ETAL APPARATUS FOR CURLING AN END OF A WIRE ow mm m April 14, 1964 Filed March 15, 1961 om mmwwh pm 6 kw mm 5 N E 0 v Wm M Ww m N m d 1 0 E w v, B on Q ow ww m @mwnn April 14, 1964 R. L. HOYT ETAL 3,123,820

APPARATUS FOR CURLING AN END OF A WIRE /NVENTOES RLJ-IOVT F g; CiL.K/VU7'5ON ATTOPNE Y United States Patent 3,128,820 APPARATUS FOR CURLING AN END OF A WIRE Robert L. Hoyt and Carl L. Knutson, Omaha, Nebr., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 95,987 18 Claims. (Cl. 153-2) The present invention relates generally to apparatus for curling an end of a wire and more particularly to apparatus for clipping and curling the ends of the wires of a component having a body portion and axial wires projecting therefrom. Accordingly, the general objects of the invention are to provide new and improved apparatus of this character.

In the manufacture of terminal blocks used in the telephone industry, it is necessary to assemble a great number of resistors having axial leads between projecting terminals of the terminal blocks and then to solder the resistors in place. This operation is greatly facilitated by clipping the resistor leads to length and then curling the clipped ends to approximately a J-shape in a separate operation. When this has been done, the resistors may easily be slipped over the terminals and then soldered in place.

Accordingly, a specific object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for quickly and easily clipping and curling the leads of a succession of resistors to be connected between the projecting terminals of terminal blocks.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, an apparatus for curling an end of a wire, in accordance with certain aspects of the invention, may include a pair of spaced carrier blocks, and a clamping member carried by a first one of the blocks for movement toward and away from the second block. A mandrel member is carried by the second block for movement toward and away from the first block and clamping member, the mandrel member having a rounded end constituting a form about which the wire end is to be curled. Mechanisms are provided for biasing each of the clamping and mandrel members to initial positions with respect to their associated blocks projecting toward each other. In operation, the blocks are moved relatively together so that the clamping and mandrel members clamp a wire positioned therebetween with a free end of the wire to be curled projecting beyond the rounded end of the mandrel member. Each of the clamping and mandrel members retracts with respect to its associated block, first the clamping member and then the mandrel member, against the action of its associated biasing mechanism upon further movement of the blocks toward each other. A bending member is mounted to the first block for bending the free end of the wire partially around the rounded end of the mandrel member as the clamping member retracts with respect to the first block. A curling member is mounted to the second block and engages the wire end after initial bending by the bending member and curls the wire end about the rounded end of the mandrel member in co-operation with the mandrel member as that member retracts with respect to the second block.

According to certain more specific aspects of the invention, shear members are mounted on the carrier blocks for clipping the lead wires of a component to length before the various forming elements operate to curl the clipped ends of the lead wires around the mandrel member. Preferably, the curling members comprise resiliently biased cam wipers carried by the second block in spaced relationship to the mandrel member for wiping the ends of the lead wires about the mandrel member. The mandrel member serves to withdraw the completed component from a support member for the component after the 3,128,820 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 ice curling operation. It is preferred that the operation be at least semi-automatic, and to this end a mechanism is provided for ejecting the formed component from the mandrel member as the carrier blocks move apart and for feeding a successive component to the support member.

Other objects, advantages and aspects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a. top plan view of an apparatus for clipping and curling resistor leads in accordance with the inven- 'tlOfl, portions being broken away to reveal structural detai s;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with portions broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 3, but showing certain elements moved to different operating positions;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a later stage of the operation;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 6, but showing a later stage in the operation;

FIG. 10 illustrates a resistor before the clipping and curling operations;

FIG. 11 shows the same resistor after those operations have been performed;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 3, but illustrating an alternative type of curling member; and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing a later stage of operation.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated one specific apparatus in accordance with the invention, designated generally by the numeral 10, for curling an end of a wire. In the specific form illustrated, the apparatus 10 is designed for clipping and curling the lead wires of a series of resistors designated generally by the numerals 1111. Referring to FIG. 10, the resistors 1111, as they are fed to the apparatus 10, include a cylindrical body portion 12 with a pair of axial lead wires 13-13 projecting therefrom. The apparatus 10 is designed to clip the lead wires 1313 at points A-A, which may or may not be equidistant from the body portion 12, and then to curl the clipped ends of the wires 13--13 to the approximately J-shapes indicated by the numerals 1414 in FIG. 11. When this has been done, the resistors 11-11 may easily be slipped over the ends of a pair of spaced terminals l515, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 11, and soldered in place.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, the apparatus 10 includes a fixed block, designated generally by the numeral 16, and fa movable block designated generally by the numeral 17, which is spaced from the fixed block 16. During each cycle of operation, the movable block 17 is reciprocated in a given horizontal plane toward and then away from the fixed block 16 by any suitable mechanism, such as a camming mechanism designated generally by the numeral 18 and best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The specific camming mechanism shown is a Cam Lock device, which is manufactured by the Cleveland Universal Jig Company. The mechanism 18 includes a 3 crank 19 which is turned 360 in either direction for each cycle of reciprocation of the movable block 17. The crank 19 is keyed to a vertical shaft 21 which is journalled in a housing 22. A cam 23, having the peripheral outline shown in FIG. 1, is also keyed to the shaft 21 and is received within a slot 24 formed in a plunger 26. The plunger 26 is slidably mounted within the housing 22 for reciprocating movement to the left and right, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is so reciproeated by the cam 23 each time the crank 19 is turned through one revolution. The plunger 26 is provided with an enlarged head 27, which operates in a partially closed slot 28 in the movable block 17 to reciprocate that block. The block 17 slides toward and away from the fixed block 16 on guide rods 29-29 which are atfixed to that block and project therefrom.

In FIG. 3, the apparatus is shown in the open or unoperated position Where the movable block 17 is spaced from the fixed block 16 and a resistor 11 next to be formed is positioned on a pair of supporting pins 33-33 that are secured to and project outward from a clamping member 34. The clamping member 34 is mounted in the fixed block 16 for movement therewithin toward and away from the movable block 17, and is resiliently biased to an initial or unoperated position shown in FIG. 3, projecting toward the movable block 17. The clamping member 34 is formed with a central recess 36 that is designed for receiving approximately one half of the resistor body 12 thereon. The supporting pins 33-33 project from the bottom of the clamping member 34 near the ends of the recess 36 so as to support a resistor 11 on the clamping member 34 with the body portion 12 received in the recess 36, as depicted in FIG. 3.

When the resistor 11 is so supported, the wires 13-13 contact fiat frontal surfaces 36'-36' of the clamping member 34 and project therebeyond. The surfaces 36- 36 extend in either direction from the central recess 36 for distances approximately equal to the desired lengths of the straight portions of the wires 13-13 between the resistor body 12 and the curled ends 14-14.

As the block 17 moves forward from the position shown in FIG. 3 toward that shown in FIG. 4, a pair of shearing members 37-37, which are secured to and project from the block 17, move past a pair of shearing edges 33-38 to clip the wires 13-13 to the desired length, at the points A-A. The shearing edges 38-38 are provided at the outer ends of a pair of bending members 38-38, which are secured to the fixed block 16 one on either side of the clamping member 34 so as to permit the clamping member 34 to slide therewithin during the curling operation. The shearing members 37-37 are positioned in offset facing relation to the shearing edges 38-38' so that the shearing members 37-37 may slide past the bending members 38-38, as illustrated in FIG. 4, after the clipping operation.

The bending members 38-38 are provided with fiat frontal surfaces 38"38" having lengths equal to the lengths of the wire ends which are to be curled. In the initial position of the apparatus (FIG. 3), the flat frontal surfaces 36-36 of the clamping member 34 are substantially flush with the corresponding surfaces 38-38 of the bending members 38-38.

As the movable block 17 moves forward toward the fixed block 16, a mandrel member 39 moves into engagement with the clamping member 34 to clamp the resistor 11 and portions of the lead wires 13-13 between those members. The mandrel member 39 is mounted in the movable block 17 for relative movement therewithin toward and away from the fixed block 16, and is resiliently biased to an initial or unoperated position (FIG. 3) with respect to the movable block 16 projecting toward but not contacting the clamping member 34. The mandrel member 39 is provided with a central recess 39 opposing the recess 36 of the clamping member 34 and designed for receiving substantially the other half of the resistor body 12 therein when the mandrel member 39 moves into engagement with the clamping member 34.

The mandrel member 39 is also provided with flat frontal surfaces 39-39", which extend in either direction from the central recess 39' for approximately the same distances as the corresponding surfaces 36-36 of the clamping member 34. When the mandrel member 39 is moved into engagement with the clamping member 34, the base portions of the lead wires 13-13 are clamped securely between the members 39 and 34. In the preferred arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3, the flat frontal surfaces 39-39 of the mandrel member 39 are slightly in advance of the leading edges of the shearing members 37-37 so that the shearing members 37-37 pass the shearing edges 33-38 immediately after the mandrel member 39 engages the clamping member 34 to clamp the resistor 11 therebetween.

In order to provide for the indicated sliding movement of the mandrel member 39 with respect to the movable block 17, the mandrel member 39 is mounted on a bolt 41 which is slidably received within a closed bore 42 in the block 17. The mandrel member 39 is resiliently biased toward the clamping member 34 by a coil spring 43, which is received within the bore 42 between the bolt 41 and a plug 44 that serves to close the bore 41. Similarly, the clamping member 34 is mounted on a bolt 46 that is slidable within a closed bore 47 in the fixed block 16 and is resiliently biased toward the mandrel member 39 by a coil spring 48 operating against a plug 49.

After the initial clamping engagement of the mandrel member 39 and the clamping member 34, the block 17 moves still farther toward the fixed block 16 and the mandrel member 39 pushes against the clamping member 34 to force retraction of the clamping member 34 within the fixed block 16 against the action of the biasing spring 48. Referring to FIG. 4, as the clamping member 34 so retracts, the freshly clipped ends of the lead wires 13- 13 are bent to angles of approximately around a pair of rounded ends 51-51 of the mandrel member 39 by the stationary bending members 38-38. At this stage, the wire ends project into a pair of symmetrical passages 52- 52 within the block 17 between the shear members 37- 37 and the mandrel member 39. In this manner, the wire ends are initially bent by the members 38-38 partially around the rounded ends 51-51 of the mandrel member 39 as the clamping member 34 retracts into the fixed block 16.

After the initial bending has been completed (FIG. 4), the clamping member 34 engages a stop 53, which is secured in the fixed block 16 to stop further retraction of the clamping member 34. Then, the mandrel member 39 retracts relatively within the movable block 17 against the action of its biasing spring 43 because the clamping member 34 is now stationary. As the mandrel member 39 retracts relative to the movable block 17, a pair of curling mmbers designated generally by numeral 55 operate to engage the wire ends after initial bending by the bending members 38-38 and to curl those ends completely around the rounded ends 51-51 of the mandrel member 39, as shown in FIG. 5. The curling members 55-55 are carried by the movable block 17 in spaced relationship to the mandrel member 39 in the initial position thereof (FIG. 3), but eo-oper ate with the mandrel member 39 as that member retracts relative thereto (FIG. 5) to bend the wire ends further and thus form the required curled ends 14-14.

In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, and especially in FIGS. 4 to 6, the curling members 55-55 comprise a pair of cam wipers 56-56, which are rotatably mounted in the movable block 17, in the passages 52-52, one on either side of the mandrel member 39. The wipers 56-56 are mounted for rotation on a pair of vertical pins 57-57, and are resiliently biased rotationally to initial or rest positions against relieved interior portions of the movable shear members 37-37,

as illustrated in FIG. 3, by a pair of compression springs 58-58. The springs 58-58 are received within closed wells 59-59 in the movable block 17 and operate against a pair of plungers 61-61 to urge the lower wiper 56, as viewed in FIG. 3, in a counterclockwise direction to the rest position and the upper wiper 56 in a clockwise direction to the rest position.

As the cam wipers 56-56 advance with the movable block 17 to approximately the positions shown in FIG. 4, where the initial 90-bends have been formed by the bending members 38-38, a pair of rounded leading portions 62-62 of the wipers 56-56 engage the fiat frontal surfaces 38"-38" of the bending members 38-38 to rotate the cam wipers 56-56 against the action of the biasing springs 58-58 into contact with the wire ends after initial bending by the members 38-38.

Continued forward movement of the block 17 causes the cam wipers 56-56 to rotate further, and the rounded leading portions 62-62 wipe the wire ends completely around the rounded ends 51-51 of the mandrel member 39 to form the curled ends 14-14. During this curling operation, the wire ends are compressed firmly between the mandrel member 39 and the cam wipers 56-56 under the influence of the biasing spring 48 for the clamping member 34 and the springs 58-58 for the cam wipers 56-56 as the mandrel member 39 retracts relative to the movable block 17 and cam wipers 56-56. At this time (FIG. 5), the resistor 11 is fully formed and the forward movement ceases.

After the forming operation has thus been completed, continued rotation of the handle 19 either by hand or by a suitable automatic drive (not shown) operates to reciprocate the movable block 17 back to its initial position. As the block 17 is thus retracted, the mandrel member 39 moves relative to the movable block 17 back to its initial or projecting position under the influence of the biasing spring 48, and then the clamping member 34 moves back to its original position under the influence of the biasing spring 48. Since the fully formed wire ends 14-14 are curled around the ends 51-51 of the mandrel member 31, the completed resistor 11 moves to the right with the mandrel member 39 as the block 17 returns to the initial position, until the resistor 11 has been withdrawn from the supporting pins 33-33, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Preferably, an automatic mechanism is provided for ejecting each formed resistor from the mandrel member 39 as the block 17 returns to the initial position and after the resistor has been withdrawn from the supporting pins 33-33 by the movement of the mandrel member 39. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the ejecting mechanism comprises a pair of stationary finger members 65- 65, best illustrated in FIG. 9, which have rounded lower ends projecting downward into the path of the upper portion of the resistor body 12 as the finished resistor 11 is withdrawn by the mandrel member 39 so as to push the finished resistor 11 downward off of the mandrel member 39. The finished resistor 11 then falls a short distance into a receiver 66 which is positioned below the finger members 65-65. The mandrel member 39 is provided with a pair of slots 66'-66 in the upper surface thereof to permit forward movement thereof past the finger members 65-65 out ofcontact therewith.

In the preferred construction, an automatic mechanism is also provided for feeding another component onto the supporting pins 33-33 as the block 17 returns to itsinitial position and after the first formed resistor 11 has been disengaged from the supporting pins 33-33 by the movement of the mandrel member 39. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the resistors 11-11 are fed to the apparatus by gravity, one at a time, along an inclined guide chute designated generally by the numeral 67 and best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 8. The chute 67 has a central groove 68 of a width approximately equal to the length of the resistor body 12, so that the resistors 6 11-11 roll down the chute 67 in precise alignment with the operating elements of the apparatus 10.

A stationary guide member, designated generally by the numeral 69, is secured to the fixed block 16 on bars 71-71 above the mandrel member 39. The ejecting fingers 65-65 previously mentioned are also secured to the guide member 69 and project downward therefrom. A pair of guide rods 72-72 are also secured to the guide member 69 and project downward therefrom near the opposite ends thereof. The rods 72-72 engage the resistor leads 13-13 near the ends thereof as the resistors travel vertically downward when they reach the end of the inclined portion of the chute 67. The rods 72-72 are spaced from the vertical portions of the chute 67 so as to define therewith a narrow vertical channel through which the resistors 11-11 pass.

In the operated position, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9, the resistors 11-11 waiting to be fed into the apparatus 10 are stationary and the body portions 12-12 thereof ride on top of the mandrel member 39, due to the height of the mandrel member 39 being approximately the same as the diameter of the resistor bodies 12-12. However, when the mandrel member 39 has withdrawn each fully formed resistor 11 from the supporting pins 33-33, the next successive resistor 11 in the chute 67 drops down onto the supporting pins 33-33 so as to be in the proper position for the next succeeding clipping and forming operation. The lower ends of the guide rods 72-72 are curved toward the fixed block 16 so as to position each resistor 11 in turn properly on the pins 33-33.

Alternative Embodiment According to an alternative construction illustrated fragmentarily in FIGS. 12 and 13, the apparatus is substantially the same as previously described except for the construction and operation of the curling members designated generally by the numerals 55-55. Thus, this form of the apparatus includes, broadly, a clamping member 34 for holding a resistor 11, a mandrel member 39, a pair of bending members 38-38, and a pair of shearing members 37-37, all as previously described.

In the alternative construction, each curling member 55 comprises a fixed member or block 80, which is secured to the movable block 17 between one of the shearing members 37-37 and the mandrel member 39 to permit sliding movement of the mandrel member 39. Each curling member is formed'with a curved frontal surface 81 which is substantially parallel to a curved rear surface 82 of the end of the mandrel member 39. Each curling member 80 is spaced from the mandrel member 39 in the initial position thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 12, but is engaged by the mandrel member 39 when that member is fully retracted relative to the movable block 17, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The wire ends 13-13 are thus compressed between the mandrel member 39 and each curling member 80, into the curled configuration 14, under the influence of the biasing spring 48 (FIG. 5) for the clamping member 34.

While various specific examples and embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, itwill be obvious that various modifications may be made from the specific details described'without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for curling an end of a wire, which comprises a pair of spaced carrier blocks;

a clamping member carried by a first one of saidblocks for movement toward and away from the second block;

a mandrel member carried by said second block for movement toward and away from said first block and said clamping member, said mandrel member having a rounded end constituting a form about which the wire end is to be curled;

means for biasing each of said clamping and mandrel members to initial positions with respect to their associated blocks projecting toward each other;

means for moving said blocks relatively together so that said clamping and mandrel members clamp a Wire positioned therebetween with a free end of the wire to be curled projecting beyond the rounded end of said mandrel member, first said clamping member and then said mandrel member retracting with respect to its associated block against the action of its associated biasing means upon further movement of said blocks toward each other;

means mounted to said first block for bending the free end of the wire partially around the rounded end of said mandrel member as said clamping member retracts with respect to said first block; and

means mounted to said second block for engaging the Wire end after initial bending by said bending means and for curling the wire end about the rounded end of said mandrel member in co-operation with said mandrel member as that member retracts with respect to said second block.

2. Apparatus for clipping a wire and curling the clipped end, which comprises a pair of spaced carrier blocks;

a pair of shear members secured one to each block in ofiset facing relationship to each other;

a clamping member carried by a first one of said blocks for movement toward and away from the second block;

a mandrel member carried by said second block for movement toward and away from said first block and said clamping member, said mandrel member having a rounded end constituting a form about which the Wire end is to be curled;

means for biasing each of said clamping and mandrel members to initial positions with respect to their associated blocks projecting toward each other;

means for moving said blocks relatively together so that said shear members pass one another to clip a wire positioned between said clamping and mandrel members and between said shear members with a free end to be clipped projecting beyond said shear members, said clamping and mandrel members clamping the wire therebetween upon further movement of said blocks, the clipped end of wire to be curled projecting beyond the rounded end of said mandrel member, first said clamping member and then said mandrel member retracting with respect to its associated block against the action of its associated biasing means upon further movement of said blocks;

means mounted to said first block for bending the clipped end of the Wire partially around the rounded end of said mandrel member as said clamping member retracts with respect to said first block; and

means mounted to said second block for engaging the clipped wire end after initial bending by said bending means and for curling the wire end about the rounded end of said mandrel member in co-operation with said mandrel member as that member retracts with respect to said second block.

3. Apparatus for curling an end of a wire which comprises:

a pair of spaced carrier blocks;

a clamping member carried by a first one of said blocks for movement toward and away from the second block;

a mandrel member carried by said second block for movement toward and away from said first block and said clamping member, said mandrel member having a rounded end constituting a form about which the wire end is to be curled;

resilient means for biasing each of said clamping and mandrel members to initial positions with respect to 3 their associated blocks projecting toward but not contacting each other;

means for supporting a wire between said clamping and mandrel members with a free end to be curled projecting beyond the rounded end of said mandrel member;

means for moving said blocks relatively together so that said clamping and mandrel members clamp the wire therebetween, first said clamping member and then said mandrel member retracting with respect to its associated block against the action of its associated biasing means upon further movement of said blocks toward each other;

a bending member secured to said first block adjacent to said clamping member for engaging and bending the free end of the wire partially around the rounded end of said mandrel as said clamping member retracts with said mandrel member with respect to said first block upon continued movement of said blocks toward each other;

a stop for limiting retracting movement of said clamping member after the free end of the Wire has been partially bent around the rounded end of said mandrel member; and

a curling member, carried by said second block in spaced relation to said mandrel member in the initial position thereof, for engaging the wire end after initial bending by said bending member and for curling the wire end about the rounded end of said mandrel member in co-operation with said mandrel member as the clamping member engages the stop and the mandrel member begins to retract with respect to said second block.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the resilient means for biasing said clamping member is more elastic than the resilient means for biasing the mandrel member whereby a lesser force is required to depress it, so that as the two carrier blocks are moved relatively together to clamp the wire between the mandrel and clamping members the mandrel member will force the clamping member to retract with respect to the first block and engage the stop before the mandrel member will retract with respect to the second block.

5. Apparatus for curling an end of a wire, which comprises a pair of spaced carrier blocks;

a clamping member carried by a first one of said blocks for movement toward and away from the second blocks;

a mandrel member carried by said second block for movement toward and away from said first block and said clamping member, said mandrel member having a rounded end constituting a form about which the wire end is to be curled;

resilient means for biasing each of said clamping and mandrel members to initial positions with respect to their associated blocks projecting toward but not contacting each other;

means for supporting a wire between said clamping and mandrel members with a free end to be curled projecting beyond the rounded end of said mandrel member;

means for moving said blocks relatively together so that said clamping and mandrel members clamp the wire therebetween, first said clamping member and then said mandrel member retracting with respect to its associated block against the action of its associated biasing means upon further movement of said blocks toward each other;

a bending member secured to said first block adjacent to said clamping member for engaging and bending the free end of the Wire partially around the rounded end of said mandrel member as said clamping member retracts with respect to said first block; and

a curling member, carried by said second block in spaced relationship to said mandrel member in the initial position thereof, for engaging the wire end after initial bending by said bending member and for curling the wire end about the rounded end of said mandrel member in co-operation with said mandrel member as that member retracts with respect to said second block.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the curling member comprises a cam wiper rotatably mounted in the second block, and wherein resilient means are provided for biasing said cam wiper rotationally to an initial position in spaced relationship to the mandrel member in the initial position thereof; a leading portion of said cam wiper being designed for engaging the bending member as the blocks move together to rotate said cam wiper against the action of its biasing means so that said cam wiper engages the wire end after initial bending by the bending member and Wipes the wire end completely around the rounded end of the mandrel member, the wire end being compressed between the mandrel member and said cam wiper under the influence of the respective biasing means for those members as the mandrel member retracts with respect to the second block and cam wiper.

7. Apparatus for curling an end of a wire, which comprises a pair of spaced carrier blocks;

a clamping member carried by a first one of said blocks for movement toward and away from the second block;

a mandrel member carried by said second block for movement toward and away from said first block and said clamping member, said mandrel member having a rounded end constituting a form about which the wire end is to be curled;

resilient means for biasing each of said clamping and mandrel members to initial positions with respect to their associated blocks projecting toward but not contacting each other;

means for supporting a wire on said clamping member between that member and said mandrel member with a free end of the wire to be curled projecting beyond the rounded end of said mandrel member;

means for reciprocating said blocks relatively toward and then away from each other so that said clamping and mandrel members clamp the wire therebetween, first said clamping member and then said mandrel member retracting with respect to its associated block against the action of its associated biasing means upon further movement of .said blocks toward each other;

a bending member secured to said first block adjacent to said clamping member for engaging and bending the free end ofthe wire partially around the rounded end of said mandrel member as said clamping member retracts with respectto said first block;

a curling member, carried by said second block in spaced relationship to said mandrel member in the initial position thereof, for engaging the wire end after initial bending by said bending member and for curling the wire end about the rounded end of said mandrel member in co-operation with said mandrel member as that member retracts with respect to said second block; and

means for ejecting the formed wire from said mandrel member as said blocks are moved relatively away from each other after the forming operation.

8. The apparatus as. recited in claim 7,

wherein the formed wire remainsattached tosaid mandrel member as the blocks move away. from each other after the curling operation due to the wire end being curled around the curved end of the mandrel member,

wherein the blocks are moved far enough apart by the reciprocating means that the formed wire is dis-- 10 engaged from the supporting means as a result of such movement, and

wherein means are provided for feeding another wire to be formed onto the supporting means as the blocks move apart and after the first formed wire has been disengaged from the supporting means by the movement of the mandrel member.

9. Apparatus for curling an end of a wire, which comprises:

a pair of spaced carrier blocks;

a clamping member mounted in a first one of said blocks for movement therewithin toward and away from the second block;

a mandrel member mounted in said second block for movement t-herewithin toward and away from said first block, said clamping and mandrel members having aligned, facing, flat frontal surfaces, said mandrel member having a rounded end constituting a form about which the wire end is to be curled;

resilient means for biasing each of said clamping and mandrel members to initial positions with respect to their associated blocks where the flat frontal surfaces thereof project toward but do not contact each other;

means for supporting a wire on said clamping member with a free end to be curled projecting beyond the flat frontal surface thereof;

means for reciprocating said blocks relatively toward and then away from each other so that said clamping and mandrel members clamp the wire therebetween, first said clamping member and then said mandrel member retracting within its associated block against the action of its associated biasing means upon further movement of said blocks toward each other;

a bending member secured to said first block adjacent to said clamping member and having a flat frontal surface, said bending member projecting from said first block to a position where the flat frontal surface thereof is substantially flush with the flat frontal surface of said clamping member in the initial position thereof, said bending member operating to bend the free end of the wire to an angle of approximately around the rounded end of said mandrel member as said clamping member retracts relative to said first block and bending member; and

a curling member, carried by said second block in spaced relationship to said mandrel member in. the initial position thereof, for engaging the wire end after initial bending by said bending member and for curling the wire end completely about the rounded end portion of said mandrel member in co-operation with said mandrel member as that member retracts relative to said second block and curling member.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9,

wherein the wire is initially longer than required,

wherein the flat frontal surface of the bending member is of such length that, when the wire is positioned on the supporting means prior to. the curling operation, the excess wire projects beyond the flat frontal surface of the bending member,

wherein a shearing edge is provided at the outer end of the bending member, and

wherein a shearing member is secured to the second block in offset facing relationship to the shearing edge on the bending member, said shearing member projecting from the second block a sufficient distance to pass the shearing edge on the bending member immediately after the wire has been clamped between the clamping and mandrel members.

11. Apparatus for curling the ends of the wires of a component having a central body portion and axial wires projecting therefrom While leaving straight pontions of predetermined lengths extending between the body portion and the curled ends, which apparatus comprises:

(1') a fixed block;

(2) a movable block spaced from said fixed block;

(3) a clamping member mounted in said fixed block for movement therewithin toward and away from said movable block, said clamping member having (a) a central recess designed for receiving approximately one half of the body portion of the component, and

(b) flat frontal surfaces extending in either direction from the central recess for distances approximately equal to the desired lengths of the straight portions of the wires between the body portion and the curled ends;

(4) means for supporting a component on said clamping member with the body portion of the component received in the recess and the wires contacting the flat frontal surfaces thereof and projecting therebeyond;

(5) resilient means for biasing said clamping member to an initial position with respect to said fixed block projecting toward said movable block;

(6) a pair of bending members having fiat frontal surfaces, said bending members being secured to said fixed block one on either side of said clamping member and projecting from said fixed block to positions where the fiat frontal surfaces thereof are substantially flush with the flat frontal surfaces of said clamping member in the initial position thereof;

( 7) a mandrel member mounted in said movable block for relative movement therewithin toward and away from said fixed block, said mandrel member having (a) a central recess opposing that of said clamping member and designed for receiving approximately the other half of the body portion of the component,

(b) flat frontal surfaces opposing those of said clamping member and extending in either direction from the central recess for approximately the same distances as the flat frontal surfaces of said clamping member, and

(c) rounded ends constituting forms about which the wire ends are to be curled;

=(8) resilient means for biasing said mandrel member to an initial position with respect to said movable block where the fiat frontal surfaces thereof project toward but do not contact those of said clamping member;

(9) a stop for limiting retracting movement of said clamping member;

(10) means for reciprocating said movable block toward and then away from said fixed block so that (a) said mandrel member moves into engagement with said clamping member upon forward movement of said movable block to clamp the component and portions of the wires between those members,

(b) said clamping member retracts within said fixed block against the action of its associated biasing means upon further forward movement as said mandrel member pushes against said clamping member and engages said stop,

(a) said mandrel member retracts relatively within said movable block against the action of its associated biasing means after said clamping member has engaged said stop,

(d) the ends of the wires are bent to angles of approximately 90 around the rounded ends of said mandrel member by said bending members as said clamping member retracts relative to said fixed block and bending members; and

(11) a pair of curling members, carried by said movable block in spaced relationship to said mandrel member in the initial position thereof, for engaging the wire ends after initial bending by said bending members and for curling the wire ends completely 12 about the rounded ends of said mandrel member in co-operation with said mandrel member as that member retracts relative to said movable block and curling members.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11,

wherein the wires of the component are initially longer than required,

wherein the fiat frontal surfaces of the bending members are of such lengths that, when the component is positioned on the supporting means prior to the curling operation, the excess lengths of the wires project beyond the flat frontal surfaces of the bending members,

wherein shearing edges are provided at the outer ends of the bending members, and

wherein a pair of shearing members is secured to the movable block in ofiset facing relationship to the shearing edges on the bending members, said shearing members projecting from said movable block to positions slightly behind the flat frontal surfaces of the mandrel member in the initial position thereof so that said shearing members pass the shearing edges on the bending members to clip the wires to length immediately after the mandrel member engages the clamping member and before any substantial degree of retraction of those members relative to their associated blocks.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the curling members comprise a pair of cam wipers rotatably mounted in the movable block one on either side of the mandrel member, and wherein resilient means are provided for biasing the cam wipers rotationally to initial positions in spaced relationship to the mandrel member in the initial position thereof; said cam wipers being formed with rounded leading portions designed for engaging the fiat frontal surfaces of the bending members upon forward movement of the movable block to rotate said cam wipers against the action of said biasing means into contact with the wire ends after initial bending by the bending members, further forward movement of the movable block operating to rotate said cam wipers further so that the rounded leading portions wipe the wire ends completely around the rounded ends of the mandrel member, the wire ends being compressed between the mandrel member and said cam wipers as the mandrel member retracts relative to the fixed block and cam wipers.

14. The appartus as recited in claim 11, wherein the curling members comprise a pair of fixed members secured to the movable block and having curved frontal surfaces substantially parallel to curved rear surfaces of the ends of the mandrel member, said curling members being spaced from the mandrel member in the initial position thereof but being engaged by the mandrel member when the mandrel member is fully retracted relative to the movable block to compress the wvire ends between the mandrel member and the curling members.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the mandrel member withdraws the completed component from the supporting means for the component as the movable block returns to the initial position due to the ends of the wires being curled around the ends of the mandrel member, and wherein means are provided for ejecting the completed component from the mandrel member as the movable block returns to the initial posi tion and after the component has been withdrawn from the supporting means by the movement of the mandrel member.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15,

wherein the movable block reciprocates in a given hori- I zontal plane,

wherein the ejecting means comprises at least one stationary finger member projecting downward into the path of the upper portion of the component body as the finished component is withdrawn by the mandrel member so that said finger member pushes the sion of continuous strokes and is designed to move completed component downward off of the mandrel the mandrel member sufliciently far away from the member, and clamping member on the return stroke that the wherein the mandrel member is slotted to permit formandrel member withdraws the completed compoward movement thereof past said finger member out 5 nent from the supporting pins thereby permitting of contact therewith. the next successive component .in the chute to drop 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, (wherein the down onto the supporting pins, and movable block reciprocates in a given horizontal plane, wherein means are provided for ejecting the formed and wherein the supporting means for the component component from the mandrel member after the comprises a pair of pins projecting from the bottom of 10 formed component has been withdrawn from the the clamping member near the ends of the central recess supporting pins and before the movable block has as to pp the y Portion of the component 011 the returned to the initial position so as to prepare the clamping member in the central recess thereof. apparatus .f h next for ing operation 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein a guide chute is provided above the initial po- 15 References Qited in the file of this patent vsition of the clamping member to supply a succession of components by gravity in a vertical line to UNITED STATES PATENTS the supporting pins for cyclic continuous operation 2,409,147 Neuh-aus et a1. Oct. 8, 1946 of the apparatus, 2,450,920- Shand Oct. 12, 1948 wherein the height of the mandrel member is such that 20 2,737 211 perry et 1 19 5 the body portion of the next successive component 2777477 Zimmenman Jan 5 1957 rides on top of the mandrel member during each 2:858:873 Snow S i :1 1958 formmg oPeFatlcn, 3,010,492 Ryder et a1 Nov. 28, 1961 wherein the reciprocating means operates in a succes 

1. APPARATUS FOR CURLING AN END OF A WIRE, WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF SPACED CARRIER BLOCKS; A CLAMPING MEMBER CARRIED BY A FIRST ONE OF SAID BLOCKS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE SECOND BLOCK; A MANDREL MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SECOND BLOCK FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIRST BLOCK AND SAID CLAMPING MEMBER, SAID MANDREL MEMBER HAVING A ROUNDED END CONSTITUTING A FORM ABOUT WHICH THE WIRE END IS TO BE CURLED; MEANS FOR BIASING EACH OF SAID CLAMPING AND MANDREL MEMBERS TO INITIAL POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR ASSOCIATED BLOCKS PROJECTING TOWARD EACH OTHER; 